2023 WNBA playoffs: Finals schedule, scores, matchups and award winners
The 2023 WNBA regular season is in the books. Two rounds of the playoffs are completed. Next up: The Finals.
The defending champion Las Vegas Aces have looked dominant the entire year, finishing with only six losses in the 40-game season, but the margin between super teams has closed after the New York Liberty beat the Aces three times in August, including the WNBA Commissioner's Cup.
The Aces are looking to become the first team since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002 to win back-to-back WNBA titles, while the Liberty (32-8) are vying for the franchise's first-ever WNBA championship.
Here's everything you need to know about the WNBA playoffs, from the schedule, to matchups and predictions:
LAS VEGAS ACES: Celebrated at White House for 2022 WNBA championship
WNBA Playoff format
The WNBA playoffs consists of three rounds — first-round, semifinals and the WNBA Finals.
The eight teams with the highest winning percentages over the season will compete in the first-round, best-of-three series. Each team will be seeded based on their season record, with the higher seed hosting Game 1 and Game 2. The lower seed will host Game 3, if necessary.
The semifinals and WNBA Finals are best-of-five series.
NEW WNBA PLAYOFF FORMAT: More games, no byes or single elimination-games
The official bracket for the 2023 #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @Google ⬇️
First Round begins Wednesday September 13th at 8pm/ET on ESPN2 #MoreThanGame pic.twitter.com/Jc90UfZUKt— WNBA (@WNBA) September 10, 2023
WNBA Finals schedule
Las Vegas Aces vs. New York Liberty
All times Eastern, *if necessary
Las Vegas leads series 1-0
Game 1: Aces 99, Liberty 82
Game 2, Wednesday: New York at Las Vegas, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 3, Oct. 15: Las Vegas at New York, 3 p.m. (ABC)
*Game 4, Oct. 18: Las Vegas at New York, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
*Game 5, Oct. 20: New York at Las Vegas, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
WNBA playoff schedule: Semifinals
All times Eastern, *if necessary
(1) Las Vegas Aces vs. (4) Dallas Wings
Aces win series 3-0
Game 1, Sunday: Aces 97, Wings 83
Game 2, Sept. 26: Aces 91, Wings 84
Game 3, Sept. 29: Aces 64, Wings 61
(2) New York Liberty vs. (3) Connecticut Sun
Liberty win series 3-1
Game 1, Sunday: Sun 78, Liberty 63
Game 2, Sept. 26: Liberty 84, Sun 77
Game 3, Sept. 29: Liberty 92, Sun 81
*Game 4, Oct. 1: Liberty 87, Sun 84
WNBA playoff schedule: First round
(1) Las Vegas Aces vs. (8) Chicago Sky
Aces win the series 2-0
Game 1: Las Vegas 87, Chicago 59
Game 2: Las Vegas 92, Chicago 70
Cydney's prediction: Aces in two.
Regular season: The Aces are 3-0 against the Sky this season.
(2) New York Liberty vs. (7) Washington Mystics
Liberty win the series 2-0
Game 1: New York 90, Washington 75
Game 2: New York 90, Washington 85 (OT)
Cydney's prediction: Liberty in two.
Regular season: Series between the Liberty and Mystics is tied, 2-2.
(3) Connecticut Sun vs. (6) Minnesota Lynx
The Sun win the series 2-1.
Game 1: Connecticut 90, Minnesota 60
Game 2: Minnesota 82, Connecticut 75
Game 3: Connecticut 90, Minnesota 75
Cydney's prediction: Sun in three.
Regular season: The Sun are 3-1 against the Lynx this season.
(4) Dallas Wings vs. (5) Atlanta Dream
Wings win the series 2-0
Game 1: Dallas 94, Atlanta 82
Game 2: Dallas 101, Atlanta 74
Cydney's prediction: Wings in two.
Regular season: The Wings swept the Dream, 3-0.
Who is the 2023 WNBA MVP?
The end-of-season awards will be rolled out during the playoffs:
WNBA Peak Performers: Jewell Lloyd (PPG leader), Alyssa Thomas (RPG leader), Courtney Vandersloot (APG leader)
WNBA Coach of the Year: Stephanie White, Connecticut Sun
Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year: Alysha Clark, Las Vegas Aces
Kia WNBA Most Improved Player: Satou Sabally, Dallas Wings
Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
WNBA All-Defensive Team: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces; Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun; Brittney Sykes, Washington Mystics; Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty; Jordin Canada, Los Angeles Sparks.
Kia WNBA Most Valuable Player: Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
WNBA All-Rookie Team: Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever; Jordan Horston, Seattle Storm; Dorka Juhász, Minnesota Lynx; Diamond Miller, Minnesota Lynx; Li Meng, Washington Mystics.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WNBA playoffs 2023: Scores, schedules, matchups, predictions, awards